On August 31st, Vintages will release its 90 points plus wine release and yours truly was able to taste and enjoy a few of them. For those who buy wine based on the wine gurus’ numerical ratings, there are many tasty bottles to pick from. Just for fun, I put my own numerical ratings next to those of the experts. Please do read on………

593525 FROG’S LEAP ZINFANDEL 2010 Napa Valley, California $37.95
An absolutely amazing multi-layered Zinfandel just brimming with dark fruit, mineral, Asian spices, pepper and dried mushroom. It is beautifully balanced, the dark fruit acidity is so cleansing, tannins are soft and the finish is long. Find this wine
Score: 91 Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast.
Score: 92 C.Z. Gang of Pour

091058 BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Napa Valley, California $49.95
Ripe and aromatic, the nose has blackcurrant, stone, chocolate and cinnamon notes.
It has solid structure, good depth of dark fruit and plummy flavours, milk chocolate tannins and a chewy finish. Find this wine
Score: 92 Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com
Score: 90 C.Z Gang of Pour

072603 NUGAN ESTATE MCLAREN PARISH VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2010 McLaren Vale, South Australia $24.95
Dark and shiny, it blows off notes of eucalyptus, mint, lavender and black toffee. A few spins releases layers of dark fruit, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla. Well balanced on the palate, lots of creamy sweet fruit tamed by perfect levels of acidity. Tannins are tight, although tasty right now, time in the cellar will only enhance this wine. Find this wine
Score: 90(+?) Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar
Score 91 C.Z Gang of Pour

719575 MOUNT LANGI GHIRAN BILLI BILLI SHIRAZ 2009 Victoria, Australia $17.95
A little supressed, some earthy aromas along with stewed fruit; palate has a sweet and viscous texture to it. The fruit is more apparent on the finish, acidity is low and tannins are soft. Find this wine
Score: 94 James Halliday, winecompanion
Score 85 C.Z Gang of Pour

738120 CHÂTEAU HAUT SELVE 2009 Graves, Bordeaux $20.95
Toasty, full of blackcurrant, moss, wet soil and lead pencil. Its palate has an array of mixed fruit, chunky tannins, mineral and a cocoa powder texture. Give this well-priced wine some time and one will surely be rewarded. Find this wine
Score: 90 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
Score 90 C.Z Gang of Pour

121319 LOUIS JADOT BEAUNE BOUCHEROTTES 1 ER CRU 2010 Burgundy $52.95
The quintessential Pinot nose leaps out to spread aromas of red berry, red currant, sweet spice, smoked meat and mineral. Its texture is that of velvet, the balance of fruit, acid and earthy influences are impeccable. Truly a brilliant bottle of wine. Find this wine
Score: 90-92 Allen Meadows, burghound.com
Score 94 C.Z Gang of Pour

063537 CHÂTEAU HYOT 2010 Côtes de Bordeaux, Castillon, Bordeaux $16.95
Funky, aromas of lamp oil, lighter fluid and light fruit flavours with a light palate and some harsh tannins. Find this wine
Score: 90 James Molesworth, winespectator.com
Score: 78 C.Z Gang of Pour

274506 DAUVERGNE-RANVIER GRAND VIN CHÂTEAUNEUF- DU-PAPE 2010 Rhône $36.95
A core of red berry, black cherry and plum combine with dark chocolate, cola and dried herbs. It is dense on the palate; tannins are most astringent which suggests laying down for quite some time. Lots of potential here me thinks. Find this wine
Score: 91 James Molesworth, winespectator.com
Score 90 C.Z Gang of Pour

650960 PERRIN PEYRE BLANCHE CAIRANNE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2011 Rhône $17.95
Easily a candidate for best value of the release this blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah immediately releases floral and lavender notes followed by dried cherry, black berry, cardamom, sweet licorice and Kirsch. The palate is full of solid fruit and mineral flavours, it has some tannins and a solid structure. Find this wine
Score: 90-92 Robert Parker Jr. erobertparker.com
Score: 93 C.Z Gang of Pour

017400 PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2011 Rhône $24.95
Tar, black berry, dark chocolate and coal dust, dried herb and floral aromas lead to a big, but tight palate that is rich and laden with super concentrated fruit and gripping tannins. Again much potential here for those with the patience to wait it out. Find this wine
Score: 90-92 Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar
Score 90 C.Z Gang of Pour

305276 RIVERA CAPPELLACCIO RISERVA AGLIANICO 2006 Castel del Monte, Puglia $17.95
Lovely dark fruit matched with coffee grounds-espresso, lead pencil, earthy and dried herbs with a palate that is balanced, has great acidity and tasty fruit on the finish. Not a bad price either for a seven year old wine of this calibre. Find this wine
Score: 93 Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com
Score 91 C.Z Gang of Pour

977629 FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 Tuscany $24.95
Tight, but when encouraged shows some nice sweet berry fruit, dark cherry, cola, thyme and anise. Tannins currently obstruct the fruit, but acids are in tune and the finish is tasty. Find this wine
Score: 90 Bruce Sanderson, winespectator.com
Score 87 C.Z Gang of Pour

270595 VILLA I CIPRESSI ZEBRAS BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 Tuscany $45.95
Complex and classic, a lovely fusion of ripe dark fruit, damp cave, polished leather, bitter chocolate and dried thyme. Beauty is on the palate, it is concentrated, balanced and sleek. A touch tannic, but that will disappear with decanting. Find this wine
Score: 92 Bruce Sanderson, winespectator.com
Score 92 C.Z Gang of Pour

987305 ALDEGHERI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2006 Veneto $51.95
Herbs, cake spice, sweet red licorice and Kirsch are first to make themselves known, but are soon joined by notes of sweet blackcurrant, coffee crisp candy and lavender. No excessive sweetness, some finely tuned and integrated tannins. Find this wine
Score: 92 Alison Napjus, wine-spectator.com
Score: 90 C.Z Gang of Pour

A couple of other wines from this release.

652883 BELLE GLOS CLARK & TELEPHONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2011 Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara $44.95
Not the type of Pinot that lured Miles Raymond, in the movie “Sideways”, to Santa Barbara. Miles speaks so fondly of his love for Pinot throughout the movie, but I think his adoration might stop right here. It is thick and ripe, so concentrated with aromas of sweetness, herbs, spicy meat and chocolaty candy. It has layers of sweet red fruit on the palate, backed up by chocolate, vanilla, sweet spice and crème brulee. An interesting wine, albeit the anti-Christ of Pinot. Find this wine

256719 VILLA MT. EDEN ANTIQUE VINES GRAND RESERVE ZINFANDEL 2008 $19.95
A pleasing Zin of medium intensity showing briar, red berry, red licorice and slate. It is a mix of vines, those from Amador County are 100 years old and the vines from Napa County are 45 years old. The palate has clean fruit, good acidity and gentle tannins. This is drinking well, is fruit forward, but the layers of mineral and notes of forest render it very tasty. Find this wine

161299 NAPA CELLARS MERLOT 2011 Napa Valley $24.95
Red currant, sweet spice and baker’s chocolate are prominent on the nose while the palate offers simple red fruit flavours, some sweetness and dusty tannin. Find this wine

224592 DOMAINE LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU 2011 Côtes du Rhône-Villages $13.95
A well-priced Cote du Rhone Village wine showing dark fruit, nut shell, black pepper and mocha. The palate is simple, mostly fruit, some tannin, tasty save for the hot note on the finish. (15%) of alcohol! Find this wine

Cheers
C.Z

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3. Alan Kerr’s August 21st, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s May 14 Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s July 9 Release – Tasting Notes